Moonraker (Soundtrack)

The main title is a much slower affair to usual... Ms Bassey doesn't even have to shout, and is in keeping with the trend set by the last film. The song is reprised in a more speedy, discoesque way over the end titles, in line with the music of the time.

"Flight Into Space" is perhaps the most haunting theme of this soundtrack, lasting for over six minutes, covering the whole journey between Drax's Amazonian lair and the Space Station. Almost as involved is "Centrifuge And Corrine Put Down" where Bond is nearly killed and Corrine is actually killed.

Other goodies include "Space Lazer Battle" and "Bond Arrives In Rio And Boat Chase", the latter half of the latter song being a reprise of the "007" song, providing a small link between this most modern of Bonds and those of yesteryear.

You would never guess that 'Flight into Space' is not a classical piece of music in its own right - a swooping, building concerto, it evokes the solemnity and majesty of space.

The title track is quite simply superb - again under-rated but a beautifully written love song for which Barry should be proud.

The rest of the soundtrack album is of equally high quality - my one criticism being that it should be longer.

The title song is the only real let-down. It's too slow paced and Shirley Bassey seemed an odd choice given that this song didn't make any great use of her vocal power, but at least the shorter End Title version has a quicker disco style beat.

Unusually for Barry, the main theme isn't woven much throughout the score making appearances in 'Miss Goodhead Meets Bond' as a love theme and 'Bond Arrives In Rio'. 'Bond Lured To Pyramid' is a lovely choir track that seems a bit out of place in this score, but it's worth being there for the change of pace.

The tracks 'Cable Car & Snake Fight', 'Centrifuge & Corrine Put Down' and 'Bond Smells A Rat' are typical Barry suspense pieces, slow insistant build up to a powerful climax, with the latter being the best of the tracks with its deep growling brass and strings.

An old favourite returns on the track 'Boat Chase' - it's a version of Barry's own 007 Theme.

The two best tracks are 'Space Laser Battle' (oddly sequenced as track 2) and the real standout track in 'Flight Into Space'. This is a 6 1/2 minute tour-de-force from Barry ranging from a beautiful melody to dramatic brass as Bond gets his first sight of the space station and using some gentle choir work as with 'Bond Lured To Pyramid' to describe the beauty of space. It conjours up the image of a space flight perfectly.

Alas, not for the first time with a Bond album, it's the missing music that frustrates you. Where is the music used during the pre-credit scene where Bond and Jaws fall from a plane without a parachute? This contained the Bond Theme in a great arrangement.

Still, that inevitable gripe aside, this is good and varied listening. Definately recommended for the 'Flight Into Space' track alone.